Police: McCain volunteer made up robbery storyPITTSBURGH – A McCain campaign volunteer made up a story of being robbed, pinned to the ground and having the letter "B" scratched on her face in a politically inspired attack, police said Friday.

Ashley Todd, 20-year-old college student from College Station, Texas, admitted Friday that the story was false and was being charged with making a false report to police, said Maurita Bryant, the assistant chief of the police department's investigations division. Police doubted her story from the start, Bryant said.

Todd, who is white, told police she was attacked by a 6-foot-4 black man Wednesday night. She now can't explain why she invented the story, Bryant said.

Todd also told police she believes she cut the backward "B" onto her own cheek, but she didn't explain how or why, Bryant said.

Todd initially told investigators she was attempting to use a bank branch ATM when the man approached her from behind, put a knife with a 4- to 5-inch blade to her throat and demanded money. She told police she handed the assailant $60 and walked away.

Todd told investigators that she suspected the man then noticed a John McCain sticker on her car, became angry and punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground and telling her "you are going to be a Barack supporter," police said...

Wow. Dishonest, racist, crazy as a loon and dumb as a rock. Just the sort of supporter I'd want.

I especially like how she admits to lying, but just can't explain her motivation for this really badly conceived hoax. Bet the McCain campaign is thrilled to have this doofus trying to make herself a martyr to the cause. At least she realized, albeit too late, that she could be doing more harm than good.

Kind of reminds me of an episode of Smallville from a couple of years ago, only much more lame and incompetent.

Its not fair to blame any candidate for this stupidity. She could have been an Elvis fan or something and it wouldn't chane the story much. She needs real help.-Ed

Not suggesting it reflects on McCain at all, just that politicians must get really annoyed when some dumbass comes along and gives them the wrong kind of help. Although, I wouldn't go as far as to say that just any crazed fan would do something like this. She must have thought she was manufacturing the October surprise that would turn the tide of the election. And it's not surprising somebody who would come up with a crazy idea like that would mess it up so badly. I'd say "here's your sign" but she's already made her own.

I actually feel somewhat sorry for her. She really needs some competent help, both mental and physical. Because she's probably going to have some trace of that scar for the rest of her life. Thus, everytime she looks into a mirror, she's going to see what she did.

[Not suggesting it reflects on McCain at all, just that politicians must get really annoyed when some dumbass comes along and gives them the wrong kind of help. Although, I wouldn't go as far as to say that just any crazed fan would do something like this. She must have thought she was manufacturing the October surprise that would turn the tide of the election. And it's not surprising somebody who would come up with a crazy idea like that would mess it up so badly. I'd say "here's your sign" but she's already made her own.

I wasn't saying you were, but at the time it was implied by some folks on the TV, which is just wrong. I'm not (wasn't?) a fan of that side of the ticket, but theres no call to assign some girl's problems to any outside source.

No matter what the outcome, I'm glad the dang election is done. That was tiring. -Ed

No matter what the outcome, I'm glad the dang election is done. That was tiring.

Yup, between the primaries and the race itself, that was something else. Still, I envy one thing about the American system, you know when it's over, and it doesn't happen again for four years.

In Canada, in spite of efforts to establish fixed election dates, our federal elections are still determined at the whim of the prime minister. Majority governments tend to go anywhere from three years (if they're popular and want to take advantage of it) to five years (if they suck and want to stay for the maximum allowed). However, we've had minority governments for the past four years. In those cases, it comes down to either the PM calling an election when he thinks he can solidify his power, or the opposition forcing an election by way of a confidence vote when they think they can win. For four years, it's been all about which will happen and when. Between that and party power struggles, Canada has spent the better part of this decade in a perpetual election campaign. It becomes even more about grabbing power and holding power than it usually is, and that's saying something. What a waste of effort and resources. We had an election a few weeks ahead of yours - a dirty, mud-slinging affair that nobody wanted and nobody cared about, that did not change much of anything. Same minority government as before. The only thing I can say for our system is that when the PM is trying to ambush the opposition with an election date, the actual campaign tends to be short.

I'm getting off topic, but the American vote has me more fed up with my own government than usual, particularly with our election and yours running around the same time. Exciting things are happening next door while it's the same old crap here at home.

I actually feel somewhat sorry for her. She really needs some competent help, both mental and physical. Because she's probably going to have some trace of that scar for the rest of her life. Thus, everytime she looks into a mirror, she's going to see what she did.

Sad, ain't it? I do too. What a stupid mess. "I actually feel somewhat sorry for her." Dumbass. 'Not sure if I mean you, or me... or her.